Core Beliefs Psychotherapy is based on the theory that people develop a set of core beliefs about themselves in childhood. These core beliefs are the lens through which they perceive all of life. If this lens is skewed, then perceptions about the self and others will be skewed, causing many psychological, emotional, and relational problems. Like any lens, people don't see it; they just look through it. Core Beliefs Psychotherapy strives to correct this lens, allowing people to perceive themselves and others in a more accurate way.

Changing core beliefs is difficult because all input gets filtered through the core beliefs. Core Beliefs Psychotherapy was developed to circumvent this catch-22.

Theoretical Foundations of Core Beliefs Psychotherapy

The primary goal of Core Beliefs Psychotherapy is to change mistaken core beliefs. Therefore, it is important to begin by defining what CBP asserts are accurate core beliefs: every person is unique, important, valuable and lovable, and has the right to get their needs met and to be treated with care and respect at all times.

CBP is based on the theory that children develop a set of core beliefs about themselves based on their experiences. Children are egocentric; they do not possess the ability to understand that when their needs are not met, it is not their fault. Young children believe everything is their fault: abuse, neglect, financial difficulties, or even a parent's physical or emotional illness. If there are any problems in the family, children will believe that it is their fault, and that they are bad or inferior in some way.

Every family has problems, and there is no perfect parent. Therefore, all children develop some mistaken core beliefs about themselves. These beliefs are self-perpetuating. The human brain looks for evidence to support its beliefs, and rejects evidence that contradicts its beliefs. This is why mistaken core beliefs do not change throughout life.

Mistaken core beliefs cause a multitude of psychological, emotional and relational issues. The belief that one is inferior and unlovable not only leads to emotional pain; it also greatly inhibits the quality of relationships. If a person's fundamental belief is that they are not lovable, then they internally reject love. Their core beliefs twist loving messages from others and counter them with messages like: "They are just saying that" and "If they knew the real me they wouldn't love me." The person cannot truly receive love from anyone; they cannot let love in on a deep and meaningful level.

CBP was developed to correct mistaken core beliefs so that clients can find relief from the resulting emotional, psychological, and relational issues.

When children come to believe that something is fundamentally wrong with them and develop mistaken core beliefs, another significant process happens; they begin to suppress their real selves and develop coping selves. The real self is who people really are: their real feelings, needs, style, dreams, talents, and personality. The coping self develops as children attempt to be whatever they believe they must be in order to fix the problems in the family and get their needs met. Coping selves look to the environment for cues that will tell them how they should feel, think and behave. It is a very painful and unsatisfying way to live. It also leads to unhealthy, superficial and codependent relationships.

The coping self develops at the same time that mistaken core beliefs develop, and for the same reason. A child's thinking goes like this: problems exist, they are my fault, something must be wrong with me so I need to be someone else. Conversely, when the mistaken core beliefs are corrected, the person is able to let go of the coping self and reconnect to their real self.

Core Beliefs Psychotherapy has been used to successfully treat many psychological, emotional, and relational problems by correcting mistaken core beliefs, and enabling clients to let go of their coping selves and to live authentically as their real selves.

The CBP Process

CBP uses highly specialized dialogue techniques and role-plays for accessing and healing the real self. A skilled CBP therapist facilitates the real self's movement through a process that allows the real self to reinterpret childhood experiences and understand that family problems and unmet needs were NOT their fault and that there is "nothing wrong" with them.